A BOURNEMOUTH family who saw their young daughter bravely battle leukaemia are backing a dynamic new campaign to raise awareness of the devastating disease.

Millie Moore was just four when a routine blood test in January 2011 revealed she had leukaemia.

She had been suffering from flu-like symptoms, which had been going around Millie’s school, and as a precaution mum Sophie sought help from her doctor.

Sophie, who lives in Northbourne, says her family will always be thankful to the doctor who sent Millie for the blood test which revealed the leukaemia early enough to give Millie the fighting chance she needed to beat the disease.

Following months of on-going and often gruelling treatment, Millie, who is now six, is on the road to recovery.

Speaking about the diagnosis, Sophie said: “I thought at worst she had glandular fever and I felt numb when they said she had cancer. I knew what leukaemia was but didn’t know much about it.”

Sophie, who also has two-year-old son Harry, spent most of the next three months in hospital with Millie as she bravely faced treatment.

“I was on auto-pilot at first and it didn’t really hit me until six months later how serious it was.”

She added: “Some of the other children we met in hospital didn’t make it.

“We were so lucky our doctors dealt with Millie quickly.

“I am sure that made all the difference.

“Others are not so lucky. I never thought in a million years this could happen to Millie.

“I felt out of control and unable to protect her”.

Millie’s treatment will continue until next April. Week-long steroid treatment leaves her feeling particularly unwell. The youngster attends Parley First School in Ferndown as often as her treatment allows.

The school and her friends have been very supportive.

Sophie said: “She has bravely dealt with everything she had to face, including trying to keep up with her school work despite being in and out of hospital.

“Despite being through the mill, she is still full of smiles”.

Stars of TV and screen back campaign

MILLIE’S diagnosis changed the Moore family’s lives forever.

Now they have joined forces with Cancer Research UK and Channel 4 to launch a dynamic new campaign to raise funds for vital research into the devastating disease.

Stars from television, music and film are supporting the campaign called Stand Up To Cancer (SU2C).

For every pound Cancer Research UK receives, 80 pence is available to spend on its work to beat cancer. The remainder is used to fund activities that generate further income. The charity ensures that the 20 pence spent on fundraising activities works hard too – for every £1 we spend on fundraising we raise over £4 more. That excludes retail and last year Cancer Research UK contributed £20.5m to vital research from its shops. Every single penny raised in sponsorship at Cancer Research UK’s popular Race for Life events goes directly to life-saving research.

For every pound Cancer Research UK receives, 80 pence is available to spend on its work to beat cancer. The remainder is used to fund activities that generate further income. The charity ensures that the 20 pence spent on fundraising activities works hard too – for every £1 we spend on fundraising we raise over £4 more. That excludes retail and last year Cancer Research UK contributed £20.5m to vital research from its shops. Every single penny raised in sponsorship at Cancer Research UK’s popular Race for Life events goes directly to life-saving research.Helen Johnstone